A manhunt is ongoing after a mass shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, left nine people dead and ten others injured.
Police reported that seven men and two women were killed after approximately 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire on patrons at around 01:00 local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT Saturday). Officers said the shooters continued firing indiscriminately as people tried to flee the scene.
Deputy provincial police commissioner Maj-Gen Fred Kekana described the attack as “unprovoked.” “The poor patrons were just enjoying themselves when people came and shot,” he said. Among the victims, two were shot outside the tavern while attempting to escape, and a taxi driver was killed after dropping off a passenger nearby.
South Africa consistently records one of the highest murder rates globally, with an average of 63 killings per day between April and September this year. Most murders stem from arguments, robberies, and gang-related violence, though the motive for this particular attack remains unclear.
Residents at the scene described harrowing scenes. Nokuthula Bhukwana, who arrived shortly after the shooting, told Reuters, “When we opened the doors, scores of people were lying on the floor. We had to carry some of the injured to the clinic using wheelbarrows while waiting for police and ambulances.”
Another resident told Newzroom Afrika that nightly gunfire has become a disturbing norm in Bekkersdal. “Criminals do as they please here. Guns fire almost every evening at dusk, and it terrifies our communities,” he said.
Deputy mayor Nontombi Molatlhegi noted that fear prevents locals from identifying the perpetrators. She also called on the national government to deploy the military, saying police resources are stretched too thin to ensure safety.
South Africa has roughly three million legally registered firearms, but an equal number of unlicensed weapons are believed to be in circulation in the country of 63 million, according to the South African Gunowners’ Association.
This incident follows a string of deadly attacks, including the killing of at least 11 people, including a child, at a hostel near Pretoria earlier this month. Mass shootings, defined as incidents where four or more people are killed or injured, have increased since 2020, though reported cases have slightly declined in 2025. Taverns and illegal drinking spots, known locally as shebeens, are among the most common sites of such violence.
Authorities continue to investigate and urge anyone with information about the Bekkersdal shooting to come forward.
source(BBC)